Helena Cottage’s Swanky Makeover

Don’t box me in…

e reported on the town centre’s last cottage standing in September 2019, as it went on the market for €1.5m.

By June 2021, it was obvious that this historic Greystones building was destined for much bigger if not necessarily better things.

A planning application first posted outside the cottage in June 2020 had Helena Cottage being turning into a retail unit, nestled inside, of course, a whole swathe of swanky apartments.

A year later, Wicklow County Council had given that application the thumbs up. With 17 conditions. We’re just not sure what those 17 conditions are, given that WCC hasn’t supplied any details with their planning approval. The scamps.

Young Seamus Martin – who was connected to the neighbouring, departed Gemstone Shop (motto: Art Created By Nature & Then Sold By Man) – applied for permission to develop the site at No.1 Bow Lane and St Helena Cottage, and the very latest plans have just been posted…

Demolition of 1 Bow Lane, extensions and change of use (from residential to commercial retail) of existing ground floor of St. Helena Cottage & Mentone, and change of layout of existing commercial ground floor of Bethnell.

New first floor 2-bed dormer apartments to St. Helena Cottage, and Mentone/Bethnell, new 3 storey apartment building at No. 1 Bow Lane and rear of Mentone & Bethnell. New covered pedestrian entrance to rear apartments through existing passageway between St. Helena Cottage and Mentone.

All to provide a new total of 8 no. apartments (6 no. 1-bed in the new building, with 2 no. 2-bed apartments at first floor of the existing buildings along church road) and all associated site works. The site is located in an architectural conservation area.

Which all reads somewhat inevitable, given the growing popularity of Greystones as a destination, and a place to live. Still, that overgrown stretch of green out behind Helena Cottage might just be the last unmolested bit of grass in the town. For now.

You can check the plans here, whilst the planning application by MGZ Properties (Ireland) Ltd is over on the WCC site here, case no. 211409.